Hutchison agrees £2.8bn deal to fund O2 takeover

Hutchison Whampoa will sell a one-third stake in its plan to merge Three and O2 for £2.8bn to five investors to help fund its boldest bet in Europe yet.

Baring Asia raises $4 bln for 6th Asia fund

HONG KONG, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong-based Baring Private Equity Asia said on Tuesday it had raised $3.99 billion for its sixth Asia fund, the second-largest private equity funding ever for investments into the region as sovereign wealth funds and other investors flock to growth opportunities in Asia.

Ireland to give green light for hedge funds to lend

(Reuters) - Ireland, one of the biggest hubs for funds in Europe, will allow hedge funds based in the country to lend to companies under new rules drawn up by the central bank, the bank said.

Private Equity’s New Kind of Club Deal

Trendy new buyout clubs may disappoint their eager would-be patrons. The Blackstone Group is enlisting some of its fund investors to help buy the auto parts maker Gates for $5.4 billion.

Buyout firms face squeeze as investors go direct for deals

LONDON (Reuters) - Tired of the hefty fees charged by private equity firms and wanting more say over what they buy, big investors like pension funds and insurers are taking matters into their own hands.

With Banks Skittish, Europe's Private Equity Firms Look Elsewhere

LONDON - As the sovereign debt crisis has slammed Europe, Cinven has had to get creative to finance buyouts.

Sovereign Wealth Funds Could Be Private Equity's New Best Friend

With private equity firms testing the limits of limited partners’ ability and willingness to fill their new-fund coffers, sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are emerging as a potential source of capital to help bridge the fund-raising gap.

Apollo Global Plays Catch-Up in Oil With $7.15 Billion El Paso Unit Buyout

Apollo Global Management LLC (APO), seeking to catch up with KKR & Co. and Blackstone Group LP (BX) in the buyout industry’s race for energy assets, agreed to acquire El Paso Corp. (EP)’s oil- and gas-exploration unit for $7.15 billion.